Research On Neutral Shell And Drive System Used By Thermal Gliders

Underwater thermal glider is a new device to research and detect the ocean. Thethermal glider absorbs the heat energy between the warm surface water and the deepcold water to propel itself. At the same time it uses battery to run the control systemand sensors. The thermal glider could operate in a long time and a long distance. Alsoit is cheap, automatic and easy to handle. The thermal glider could be used for oceanresearch and information collection to develop the ocean. In order to decrease thedifferent buoyancy of the glider between the surface and the deep sea, Titanium alloyand carbon fiber are used to manufacture the shell of the glider. Internal disturbancewhich affects the path is researched and the path is optimized. Besides, a gear pump isemployed in the drive system to be the emergency system, which enlarges theapplication range of the glider. The main research contents and result are as follows:1. Deformation of the pressure hull is analyzed, and the formula of its buoyancychange is deduced. The simulation result proves the formula. According to theformula, the main shell and heat-exchange facility of the glider are designed and theirmaterials are chosen. Also the buoyance change in1000m compared to the surface iscalculated.2. Internal disturbance because of the fluid flowing is researched and the path isoptimized for decreasing the disturbance.3. Improve the drive system of the thermal glider. A gear pump is used to be theemergency system. Also component layout optimization of the system is given.